Ashley: I'm Sorry (for getting rid of the Messiah, signing a load of over-rated posers and taking Ne

26 May 2009 21:48
Alan Shearer moved a step closer to staying at Newcastle United as owner Mike Ashley made a grovelling apology to supporters. The billionaire owner flew into the club's training ground in a helicopter for urgent talks with the caretaker manager, who is looking for guarantees on transfer policy before accepting a five-year deal. Shearer is afraid he will not be able to generate fresh funds for Newcastle following Sunday's relegation to the Championship and is looking for a �20million kitty to rebuild his squad. Ashley briefly emerged from the five-hour meeting last night and is confident Shearer will accept the job permanently even though he said no agreement has been finalised. He said: 'Talks are now ongoing between us about how we can take this club forward again. 'Bringing Alan Shearer back to Newcastle United was the best decision I have made. 'Alan and his staff did all they could to try and keep us up in the short space of time they had. 'Seeing Newcastle relegated from the Premier League has been a catastrophe for us all. I fully accept that mistakes were made during this and previous seasons, and I am very sorry for that. 'I would like to say sorry to our magnificent supporters who have turned up in their thousands, home and away, up and down the country and who have given the team amazing backing throughout. 'And I would also say sorry to all of the club's hard-working staff, who have gone about their jobs all year long.' Defender Habib Beye last night pledged his future to the club, saying: 'I'm under contract and I'll be here next year to put this club back in the Premier League.'

Source: Daily_Mail